Messages from Janice at Rainbow Cottage

Menu

How to get out of bed feeling great, a mystery plant, volunteering, super salad recipe, tea cosy festival and an inspirational man

Have you noticed how a cat stretches after sleep getting all its limbs and body ready for action? If you do that too you will start your day feeling great. Here’s how: working within your capabilities, arch your ankles, bend your toes, flex your entire leg forward, back, sideways and manipulate the toes, heel and ankle forward and back. Take a moment to feel the renewed strength flowing through your body before leisurely getting out of bed. Enjoy the experience.

The surprise of receiving a mystery plant

Last week I arranged to have lunch with a dear friend. I was first in the cafe and when she arrived she was carrying the most unusual (to me) display in a jar which she had cleverly decorated with brown string and a raffia bow.

Dianthus ‘Green Trick’

Rhonda has a green thumb and has designed the most amazing colour co-ordinated garden at her new home. She told me they were Dianthus ‘Green Trick’. When I arrived home I ‘Googled’ the name and came up with the following information which may interest some gardeners:

I also noted that they are becoming very popular with florists to add to bouquets. I’m looking forward to growing some in my garden in the future.

Volunteering National Volunteers Week (Australia)

We have been celebrating National Volunteers Week here in Australia with various events. This year’s slogan was GIVE HAPPY, LIVE HAPPY. The Program Coordinator for the Community Visitors Scheme I volunteer with arranged a morning tea to thank all volunteers for their work and dedication. It’s absolutely outstanding how many visits have been made.

You may be interested in the amazing statistics which Esis Tawfik, Manager, Community Visitor Scheme, kindly forwarded to include in this post:

MS Community Visitors SchemeIn the past year our 478 Community Visitors Scheme volunteers mademore than 11,365 visits to socially isolated older people in NSW and Victoria.Our volunteers visit people for companionship and friendship built onmutual interests. This simple philosophy has added genuine value to thelives of many people. In 2014, our program was expanded to includepeople living in their own homes who receive a home care package. In thewords of one of the recipients, for many people, the program is a ‘lifeline’.

As mentioned previously, I visit Dorothy in an Aged Care Facility, who at 102 loves to chat and talk about her life experiences. When I was with her last week she said how nice it was to have ‘a special friend’. I found that very touching.

For readers of this blog who live outside Australia, it would be very interesting to know if you have a similar scheme in your area.

Another great recipe from Jo Marty’s book : How to eat well for next to nothing – The Bible of Budget (2nd edition)

Preheat oven to 200C – place pumpkin into a small baking tin with the oil. Toss through then bake for 20 minutes. Add curry powder and mix through. Return to oven and bake for a further 10 minutes or until cooked and a little caramelised. Set aside to cool.

To make dressing: whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt pepper and sugar. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, spinach, chickpeas and dressing.

I demonstrated this recipe at the Learn/Share Vegetarian at the Table course I conducted recently. All the participants returned the next week telling me what a success it had proved to be with their families. I’m sure you’ll enjoy trying it out.

Tea Cosy Festival at Fish Creek, South Gippsland, Vic.

Along with my friend Olga, I really enjoyed the Tea Cosy Festival at Fish Creek which is held in Fish Creek every two years. The Festival showcases the town’s character and reinvents a cultural icon of country kitchens along the way. How well I remember my mum using a tea cosy each day and having a special one for when visitors came by. I have to admit to not owning one myself but seeing all the wonderful designs, I just might be tempted to find a pattern and make one before too long.

I took some photos but there were so many people in the hall it was difficult to keep a steady hand so the results were not the best. However, I’ll share my favourites here:

An inspiration at almost 81

I have to say at nearly 81, my husband Ken, is an inspiration. He’s always planning his next project which recently was renovating the greenhouse and garden shed and reducing the vegetable growing area. I’m not sure there’s much reduction in the growing area, but things have certainly been spruced up. When he finishes a project he always says that’s the last one though I doubt it. At least I hope not.

Work in progress

Taking a break

I’d like to share this timely quote I saw attached to a tree in a Sculpture Park.

About Janice Graham

I was born in England in 1938 and migrated to Australia in 1976. During my working years, along with my husband Ken, I managed a goat dairy and distribution business supplying health food products. At the same time I took up the challenge of helping build a mud brick home and lived a somewhat 'alternative' lifestyle.
Since retirement I have published three e-books, two on vegetarian cookery and a collection of short stories from my younger years. My pastimes are studying the Spanish language, volunteering as a Crisis Counsellor and Community Visiting.
I have been married for 54 years, have a son and a daughter and five grandchildren plus a little terrier called Sophia.